One cold autumn day.
Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 25964410.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1370/afm.1781 and PMC identifier 4427427.
- No licence information is recorded for this record.
- Because redistribution is not established, this page shows the abstract only. Follow the links below for the full text.
Abstract
Behavioral change is at the heart of effective primary care, but when patients don't change, how do we account for our days? In this personal essay, I relate an encounter with a patient who wants to quit smoking, lose weight, and control her diabetes. I am discouraged when she deflects my recommendations, but a colleague's comment encourages a deeper inquiry. Knowing the patient's story and deepening the conversation, however, do not guarantee change. The experience reminds me why patience, humility, and faith are core values of the primary care physician.
Medical subject headings
- Behavior Control
- Physicians, Family